Mobile industrial equipment and methods of use

ABSTRACT

In one example, mobile industrial equipment for coupling to a truck for on highway transportation is provided. The mobile industrial equipment includes a frame to connect to the truck, a plurality of wheels connected to the frame, and a track assembly connected to the frame. In another example a method for using mobile equipment is provided. The method includes transporting mobile industrial equipment over the highway with a plurality of wheels connected to a frame of the mobile industrial equipment. The frame of the mobile industrial equipment is separated from the truck. The mobile industrial equipment is moved while separated from the truck using a track connected to the frame of the mobile industrial equipment.

BACKGROUND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/608,047, filed May 30, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/875,375, filed Oct. 5, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.9,663,161, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/135,330, filed Dec. 19, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,149,811, which is adivisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/899,848filed 22 May 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,296, the entireties of whichare hereby incorporated by reference.

THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to the field of mobile industrialequipment and methods of use. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to methods, machines, systems, sub-systems, assemblies, andcomponents for providing mobile industrial equipment that may betransported over the highway and may be moved at a job site.

Related Technology

Industrial equipment may be used at a job site for various tasks. Someindustrial equipment must be transported on the highway on the bed of atrailer. Tracked vehicles, for example, are not capable of efficienttransport over the highway, as tracked vehicles have a lower top speedthan most wheeled vehicles. Thus, tracked vehicles are generallytransported over the highway on a trailer.

However, loading and unloading industrial equipment on and off of atrailer is laborious and expensive. Furthermore, the width of thesetracked machines may make them larger than a width of a single highwaylane. Likewise, some industrial equipment may be too large and/or tooheavy to ride on a trailer fully assembled. These machines may requiremultiple trailers for on highway transport, resulting in added costs.

Some industrial equipment have been modified to include a wheelassembly. Wheeled industrial equipment may be transported on their ownpower or may include a truck connector (i.e. a kingpin) that may beconnected to a semi-truck so that the industrial equipment may be drivenover the highway to a job site. These machines are then disconnectedfrom the semi-truck and left at the job site for operation.

However, once at the job site, if one of these machines needs to bemoved to another location at the job site, it must either be reconnectedto the semi-truck to be moved or loaded onto a trailer. Furthermore,many of these devices have industrial assemblies that are connected totheir frames once they are positioned at the job site. In order to movethese machines, these attachments must be removed or otherwise adjustedin a way that slows down the job in order for the semi-trailer to bereconnected.

Alternatively, the industrial equipment could be left at a singlelocation at the job site. However, many jobs would require haulingmaterial to the industrial equipment from multiple locations at the jobsite. For example, in a pit mine operation where rock is removed fromthe wall of the mine, the material would have to be hauled from variouslocations around the mine to the industrial equipment. This requiresexpensive loading and hauling costs as a large rock truck and/or a largeloader may be required. The ability to move the industrial equipment mayreduce and/or eliminate these loading and hauling costs.

Thus, a need exists for methods, machines, systems, sub-systems,assemblies, and components for providing mobile industrial equipmentthat may be transported over the highway and may be moved at a job site.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME ASPECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein do notconstitute an exhaustive summary of all possible embodiments, nor doesthis brief summary constitute an exhaustive list of all aspects of anyparticular embodiment(s). Rather, this brief summary simply presentsselected aspects of some example embodiments. It should be noted thatnothing herein should be construed as constituting an essential orindispensable element of any invention or embodiment. Rather, variousaspects of the disclosed embodiments may be combined in a variety ofways so as to define yet further embodiments. Such further embodimentsare considered as being within the scope of this disclosure. As well,none of the embodiments embraced within the scope of this disclosureshould be construed as resolving, or being limited to the resolution of,any particular problem(s). Nor should such embodiments be construed toimplement, or be limited to implementation of, any particular technicaleffect(s) or solution(s).

Disclosed embodiments are generally concerned with methods, machines,systems, sub-systems, assemblies, and components for providing mobileindustrial equipment that may be transported over the highway and may bemoved at a job site. Embodiments within the scope of this disclosure mayinclude aspects of the present disclosure together with any one or moreof the following elements, and features of elements, in any combination.Following is a brief list of some example embodiments. It should benoted that these, and other embodiments disclosed herein, are notnecessarily mutually exclusive of each other and may share one or morecommon aspects.

In one embodiment, mobile industrial equipment for coupling to a truckfor on highway transportation is described. The mobile industrialequipment includes a frame configured to connect to the truck, aplurality of wheels connected to the frame, and a track assemblyconnected to the frame.

In another embodiment, a mobile rock crushing device for coupling to atruck for on highway transportation and transportable at a job sitewithout the truck is described. The mobile rock crushing device includesa frame having a truck connector (kingpin) proximate a front portion ofa frame to connect to the truck, the frame having a center of gravity, aconveyor connected to the frame to transport crushed materials, theconveyor extending beyond the truck connector (kingpin) in an on-siteconfiguration, a wheel assembly at least partially permanently connectedto the frame proximate a back end, the wheel assembly including threeaxles connected to the frame through a plurality of suspensions, eachaxle having at least a pair of wheels, the wheels configured to contacta ground surface and being capable of transporting the mobile rockcrushing device on the highway, the wheels configured to contact theground surface at a wheel point of contact relative to the frame, thewheel assembly having a lateral end, the wheel assembly being locatedlongitudinally behind the center of gravity of the frame, and a trackconnected to an intermediate portion of the frame at the job site suchthat the track contacts the ground surface at a track point of contactrelative to the frame, the wheel point of contact being verticallycloser to the frame than the track point of contact such that when thefirst track contacts the ground, the wheels do not contact the ground,the track extending laterally beyond the a lateral end of the wheelassembly, the track connected to the frame such that at least a portionof the track is centered relative to the center of gravity of the frame,the track capable of moving the machine while the conveyor is connectedto the frame.

In some embodiments, the plurality of wheels are connected to a solidaxle. The wheel assembly, in further embodiments, includes at least oneaxle, the at least one axle having at least a pair of wheels, the wheelsconfigured to contact a ground surface and being capable of transportingthe mobile rock crushing device on the highway, the wheels configured tocontact the ground surface at a wheel point of contact relative to theframe, and wherein the track assembly is connected to the frame suchthat the track assembly contacts the ground surface at a track assemblypoint of contact relative to the frame, the wheel point of contact beingvertically closer to the frame than the track assembly point of contactsuch that when the track assembly contacts the ground, the wheels do notcontact the ground.

In some embodiments, a plurality of stabilizers connected to the frameis included where the plurality of stabilizers contact the ground at astabilizer point of contact relative to the frame. The stabilizer pointof contact may be vertically further from the frame than the wheel pointof contact or the track assembly point of contact such that when themachine is in operation, the plurality of stabilizers contact the groundbut the track assembly and the wheels do not contact the ground.

The wheel assembly, in some embodiments, includes at least one axle thathas at least a pair of wheels. The wheel assembly may have a lateralend. The track assembly may extends laterally beyond the lateral end ofthe wheel assembly. In further embodiments, the wheel assembly islocated longitudinally behind the center of gravity of the frame and thetrack assembly is connected to the frame such that at least a portion ofthe track assembly is longitudinally centered relative to the center ofgravity of the frame. In further embodiments, the power plant is coupledto the track assembly to transmit power to the track assembly but is notcoupled to the wheel assembly such that the wheel assembly does notdirectly receive power from the power plant.

In some embodiments, the track assembly is configured to move the framewhile the truck connector is uncoupled from the truck. The trackassembly, in further embodiments, includes a first track and a secondtrack that are configured to be moved both independently andsimultaneously.

The track assembly, in some embodiments, is separably coupled to theframe and is self propelled. In further embodiments, the track assemblyis separably coupled to the frame via a stub shaft and pipeconfiguration.

In some embodiments, the wheels are highway legal and configured to bedriven at speeds exceeding 45 mph. The power plant, in furtherembodiments, is a generator coupled to the frame

The mobile industrial equipment, in some embodiments, is selected fromthe group consisting of a screening plant, a conveyor, an impactor, acrusher, a horizontal shaft impactor, and a vertical shaft impactor. Infurther embodiments, the mobile industrial equipment is used in anindustry selected from the group consisting of crushing, mining,screening, construction, demolition, recycling, environmental cleanup,forestry, and aggregate industries.

In some embodiments, an industrial assembly is connected to the frame.At least a portion of the industrial assembly may extend beyond thetruck connector (kingpin) in an on-site configuration such that thetruck cannot be connected to the truck connector without adjusting orremoving at least a portion of the industrial assembly.

In a further embodiment, a method for using mobile industrial equipmentis described. The method includes transporting mobile industrialequipment over the highway with a plurality of wheels connected to aframe of the mobile industrial equipment. The frame of the mobileindustrial equipment is separated from the truck. The mobile industrialequipment is moved using a track connected to the frame of the mobileindustrial equipment while separated from the truck.

In some embodiments, the method includes coupling a frame of the mobileindustrial equipment to the truck and decoupling the frame of the mobileindustrial equipment from the truck before connecting an industrialassembly to the frame. The mobile industrial equipment, in furtherembodiments, is moved while the industrial assembly is connected to theframe without being coupled to the truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the aspects of embodiments of the present invention,a more particular description of the invention will be rendered byreference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in theappended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict onlytypical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to beconsidered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described andexplained with additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of one example embodiment of mobileindustrial equipment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a partially assembled front view of another exampleembodiment of mobile industrial equipment;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate various views of an example embodiment of a trackconnector and track support;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of another example embodiment of a trackconnector and track support;

FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of a further example embodiment of atrack connector and track support

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate side views of a further example embodiment of atrack connector and track support;

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of another example embodiment of mobileindustrial equipment;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment of a method for using mobileindustrial equipment; and

FIG. 8 illustrates another example embodiment of a method for usingmobile industrial equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

This description relates to mobile industrial equipment and methods ofuse. More particularly, the description herein relates to methods,machines, systems, sub-systems, assemblies, and components for providingmobile industrial equipment that may be transported over the highway andmay be moved at a job site. More particularly still, the descriptionrelates to mobile industrial equipment and methods of use which can betransported over the highway with a plurality of wheels and can be movedabout a job site with a track assembly.

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe various aspectsof example embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that thedrawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of such exampleembodiments, and are not limiting of the present invention. Moreover,while various drawings are provided at a scale that is consideredfunctional for some embodiments, the drawings are not necessarily drawnto scale for all contemplated embodiments. No inference should thereforebe drawn from the drawings as to any required scale.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the presentinvention may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, well-known aspects of mobile industrial equipment have notbeen described in particular detail in order to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring aspects of the disclosed embodiments.

The disclosed embodiments may be usefully employed in connection with avariety of systems and devices, and in a variety of differentapplications. By way of illustration, but not limitation, embodimentsdisclosed herein may, in some applications, be employed in connection.

Industrial equipment is taken herein to mean equipment used in a varietyof industries. These industries include crushing, mining, screening,construction, demolition, recycling, environmental cleanup, forestry,and aggregate industries. Examples of the types of equipment used inthese industries include screening plants, conveyors, impactors,crushers, horizontal shaft impactors, vertical shaft impactors, othermining or aggregate equipment, or other equipment.

Industrial equipment typically have either wheels or tracks to transportthem at a job site, but not both wheels and tracks. Tracked equipmentare well suited for moving around a job site, but must have separatetransportation to the job site, usually via a low-boy trailer. Wheeledequipment are well suited for transportation on the highway to the jobsite, but are not well suited for moving around the job site.

In order to transport tracked industrial equipment to a job site, thetracked equipment must be loaded onto a trailer. However, loading andunloading industrial equipment on and off of a trailer is laborious andexpensive. Furthermore, the width of these tracked machines may makethem larger than a width of a single highway lane. Likewise, someindustrial equipment may be too large and/or too heavy to ride on atrailer fully assembled. These machines may require multiple trailersfor on highway transport, resulting in added costs.

In order to move wheeled equipment about a job site, it must either bereconnected to the semi-truck to be moved or loaded onto a trailer.Furthermore, many of these devices have industrial assemblies that areconnected to their frames once they are positioned at the job site. Inorder to move these machines, these attachments must be removed orotherwise adjusted in a way that slows down the job in order for thesemi-trailer to be reconnected.

For example, in order to move a crusher that has been modified toinclude a wheel assembly from one location at a job site to anotherlocation typically includes the following steps: 1) remove the feederwith a crane, 2) remove the conveyer from underneath its frame with acrane, 3) load the feeder and conveyer onto a trailer with a crane fortransport to the other location, 4) reconnect the semi-truck to thetruck connector (kingpin), 5) transport the frame with the semi-truckand the feeder and conveyer with the trailer and an additionalsemi-truck to another location at the job site, 6) position the framewith the semi-truck, 7) disconnect the semi-truck from the truckconnector, 8) reattach, with a crane, the feeder, 9) reattach, with acrane, the conveyer, 10) restart the operation. These steps are timeconsuming and therefore costly.

In order to provide both highway transportability and job site mobility,embodiments of the present invention provide mobile industrial equipmentthat includes both wheels and a track assembly.

Turning now to the Figures, consideration is given to aspects of someexample operating environments in which one or more of the conceptsdisclosed herein may be employed. It should be appreciated, however,that the illustrated embodiments are merely examples and that otherembodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of mobile industrial equipment100. The industrial equipment 100 includes a frame 102. The frame 102 isshown with a vertically offset portion (not labeled) near the center ofgravity 101 of the industrial equipment 100. In other embodiments, theframe 102 may be substantially straight, offset, or otherwise configuredto support at least one component of the industrial equipment 100. Theframe 102 includes a truck connector 103 that may be connected to atruck (such as a semi-truck or other transport). In the presentembodiment, the truck connector 103 is a standard kingpin connector.

The frame 102 is connected to an industrial assembly 120. The industrialassembly 120 may include screening plants, conveyors, impactors,crushers vertical shaft impactors, or other equipment and is shown as ageneral block for this purpose. It is understood that the location ofthe industrial assembly 120 may vary relative to the frame 102. Forexample, components of the industrial assembly 120 may extend beyond thehorizontal footprint of the frame 102. Furthermore, components of theindustrial assembly 120 may be connected to the frame above, below,within, on the sides of the frame, be otherwise connected, orcombinations thereof.

The industrial assembly 120 may be powered by an optional power plant110. The power plant 110 may include a generator or other power plant.Additionally or alternatively, power may be provided to the industrialassembly 120 through a commercial power source, such as a municipalelectrical line. Regardless, in at least one embodiment, the industrialassembly 120 is powered by a power source that is not the same as thepower source that transports the industrial equipment 100 over thehighway. In other words, where a semi-truck is used to pull theindustrial equipment 100 to a job site, the industrial assembly ispowered by another power source that is not the power source (i.e.engine) of that semi-truck.

A wheel assembly 130 is connected to the frame 102. The function of thewheel assembly 130 is to provide support to the frame 102 as theindustrial equipment 100 is transported by a truck or other transport.The wheel assembly 130 may be designed to support various loads. Forexample, the gross weight of the industrial equipment 100 may be in therange of five tons to three hundred tons.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the wheel assembly 130 is connected near the backend of the frame 102. However, in other embodiments, the wheel assembly130 may be otherwise located. The wheel assembly 130 may be locatedlongitudinally away from the center of gravity 101 of the industrialequipment 100. In other words, the wheel assembly 130 may be locatedbehind the center of gravity 101 such that the wheel assembly 130 andthe truck connector 103 may split the weight of the industrial equipment100. The division of the weight of the industrial equipment 100 may besplit generally evenly (within a few hundred pounds) in someembodiments. In other embodiments, the wheel assembly 130 may bearsubstantially more (within a then thousands of pounds) than half of theweight.

The wheel assembly 130 may include a plurality of wheels 138. The wheels138 may be connected to axles 136 or may be otherwise connected to theframe 102. The wheels 138 may be highway-legal tires that are capable ofbeing used to transport the industrial equipment 100 over the highway.For example, the wheels should be capable of being loaded and drivenover forty-five miles per hour. Highway legal tires include a tire thatsatisfies the legal requirements for on highway use. For instance, ahighway legal tire would meet national safety requirements, includingtread, loading, or other requirements.

The wheels 138 in the present embodiment are not driven. That is, thewheels 138 are connected to a solid axle without a direct power sourcerather than to a differential or other power transmitter for directlypowering the wheels. Thus, when the industrial equipment 100 is pulledon the highway by a truck or other transport, the wheels 138 are merelypulled by the truck not directly connected to a power source (via, forexample, a transmission). In other embodiments, the wheels 138 may bedirectly powered.

The wheel assembly 130, in the present embodiment, includes a pluralityof suspension connectors 132 that connect to a plurality of springs 134.The springs 134 then connect to at least one axle 136. In otherembodiments, other suspensions configurations may be used. In furtherembodiments, no suspension may be used and the wheels 138 may bedirectly connected to the frame (i.e. the axles 136 may be directlyconnected to the frame).

The industrial equipment 100 includes track assembly 140. The trackassembly 140 is connected to the frame 102. In the present embodiment,the track assembly 140 is removably connected to the frame 102. Forexample the track assembly 140, shown in FIG. 1 , includes trackconnectors 150 that are connected to the frame 102 via track supports104. In other embodiments, the track assembly 140 may be permanentlyconnected to the frame 102.

The track assembly 140, as shown in FIG. 1 , is located such that it islongitudinally centered relative to the center of gravity 101 of theindustrial equipment 100. In other embodiments, only a portion of thetrack assembly 140 may be longitudinally centered relative to the centerof gravity 101 of the industrial equipment 100. In other words,depending on the particular circumstances, the precise location of thetracks relative to the frame may be selected such that the longitudinalcenter of the tracks may be positioned at, forward of, or behind thecenter of gravity 101. In some embodiments, at least a portion of thetrack assembly 140 may longitudinally overlap at least a portion of thewheels 138. In other words, as shown in FIG. 1 , the track assembly 140may be connected to the frame 102 at a location sufficiently rearwardthat at least a portion of the track assembly 140 occupies the samelongitudinal space as at least a portion of the wheel assembly 130. Inone example, at least a portion of the track assembly 140 may overlap atleast a portion of the forward-most wheel 138 of the wheel assembly 130.

Example track assemblies 140 may include a side frame from Track One inItaly. Other track assemblies 140 may also be used. For example,Caterpillar, Berco, or other tracks may be used. The track assembly 140may include a first track and a second track. The tracks may beindependently and/or simultaneously operated. For example, one track maybe engaged while the other remains in neutral, one track may move at onespeed while the other moves at another speed, both tracks may move atthe same speed, etc.

The track assembly 140 may be powered by the power plant 110. Forexample, the power plant 110 may provide hydraulic or electric power tothe track assembly 140. In other embodiments, the power plant 110 mayprovide other power modes. For example, the power plant 110 may provideelectrical power to a DC motor.

FIG. 2 illustrates a partially disassembled front view of anotherexample embodiment of mobile industrial equipment 200. The mobileindustrial equipment 200 of this embodiment may be at least partiallyfunctionally similar to that of the industrial equipment 100 previouslydescribed above and shown in FIG. 1 in most respects, wherein certainfeatures will not be described in relation to this embodiment whereinthose components may function in the manner as described above and arehereby incorporated into this alternative embodiment described below.Like structures and/or components are given like reference numerals.

The mobile industrial equipment 200 includes a frame 202 that supportsan industrial assembly 220 that may be powered by an optional powerplant 210. The frame 202 may include a truck connector 203 that connectsto a truck or other transport. A wheel assembly 230 is connected to theframe 202 as is track assembly 240.

The industrial equipment 100 may include a plurality of stabilizers 106.The stabilizers may be located on the lateral periphery of theindustrial equipment 100. The industrial equipment may include aplurality of stabilizers 106 and is shown in FIG. 1 with a pair ofstabilizers 106. More and/or fewer stabilizers 106 may be used. In someembodiments, the frame 102 may include integrated jacks that may liftthe frame 102. Integrated jacks may facilitate the installation of thetrack assembly 240 and/or may lift the wheel assembly 130 off of theground.

The track assembly 240 is connected to the frame 202 via trackconnectors 250. The track connectors 250 are connected to the trackassembly 240 and to the track supports 204. In the present embodiment,the track assembly 240 is removably connected to the frame 202. In thisembodiment, the track connectors 250 include a bolt flange 252 and astub shaft 254 and the track supports 204 include a support shaft 206.The track assembly 240 may be lifted (via a forklift or other liftingmechanism) and connected to the frame 202. For example, the stub shaft254 may be inserted into the support shaft 206 and the bolt flange 252or pin may be bolted to the frame 202.

For purposes of illustration, the track connectors 250 and tracksupports 204 are only shown on one of the track assemblies 240 to moreclearly show the vertical and lateral relationship between the trackassembly 240 and the wheel assembly 230. Specifically, the wheels 238 ofthe wheel assembly 230 contact the ground at a wheel point of contact205. The track assembly 240 contacts the ground at a track point ofcontact 207. As shown in FIG. 2 , the track point of contact 207 isvertically further from the frame 202 than the wheel point of contact205. This allows the industrial equipment 200 to be transported on thejob site while the track assembly 240 contacts the ground without thewheel assembly 230 contacting the ground. In other embodiments, however,the track assembly 240 and the wheel assembly 230 may contact the groundat the same time.

The track assembly 240 is located further laterally outward from thelongitudinal axis of the industrial equipment 200 than the wheelassembly 230. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the wheel assembly 230is located beneath and within a lateral periphery of the frame 202. Thetrack assembly 240, as shown in FIG. 2 , is located outside of thelateral periphery of the frame 202. In other words, the track assembly240 extends laterally beyond a lateral end of the wheel assembly 230. Inother embodiments, at least a portion of the wheel assembly 230 may belocated outside of the lateral periphery of the frame 202 and/or atleast a portion of the track assembly 240 may be located within thelateral periphery of the frame 202. In further embodiments, at least aportion of both the track assembly 240 and the wheel assembly 230 may belocated within the same vertical plane.

In some embodiments, the track assembly 240 may be movably coupled tothe frame 202. For example, the track assembly 240 may be configured toraise and/or lower vertically with respect to the frame 202. This may beaccomplished, for example, with a hydraulic lift or other mechanism thatcan raise and/or lower the track assembly 240. Thus, the track assembly240 may be lowered from a stowed configuration (where the track point ofcontact 207 would be higher [i.e. vertically closer to the frame] thanthe wheel point of contact 205) to a engaged configuration (where thetrack point of contact 207 would be lower [i.e. vertically farther fromthe frame] than the wheel point of contact 205). This process may alsobe reversible where the track assembly 240 may be raised from theengaged configuration to the stowed configuration. Conversely, inanother embodiment, the track assembly 140 could be mounted in a fixedposition relative to the frame 102 and the wheel assembly 130 could beraised and lowered by, for example, hydraulic lift mechanisms relativeto the frame 102 and relative to the track assembly 140.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate various views of an example embodiment of a trackconnector 350 and track support 304. The track connector 350 and tracksupport 304 of this embodiment may be at least partially functionallysimilar to that of the track connectors 150, 250 and track supports 104,204 previously described above and shown in FIGS. 1-2 in most respects,wherein certain features will not be described in relation to thisembodiment wherein those components may function in the manner asdescribed above and are hereby incorporated into this alternativeembodiment described below. Like structures and/or components are givenlike reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 3A a frame 302 includes a track support 304 connectedto the frame 302. The track support 304 includes a support shaft 306.The track support 304 may be connected to the frame 302 by welding, viabolts, other connection types, or combinations thereof. As shown in FIG.3B, the support shaft 306 of the track support 304 may extend to alateral periphery of the frame 302 such that the track connector 350 maybring the track assembly 340 flush with the lateral periphery of theframe 302. In other embodiments, the track support 304 and/or supportshaft 306 may be otherwise configured.

FIG. 3C illustrates the track connector 350 from a front and a sideview. The track connector 350 includes a bolt flange 352 and a stubshaft 354. The bolt flange 352 connects to the track support 304 on theframe 302. The stub shaft 354 and the support shaft 306 are sized tomate with each other.

The bolt flange 352 can be connected to the frame 302 via bolts or otherconnectors in a removable track assembly 340 embodiment or may be weldedor otherwise permanently connected to the frame 302 in a permanent trackassembly 340 embodiment. Although a stub shaft 354 support shaft 306configuration is described in the present embodiment, other trackconnector 350 track support 304 configurations are also contemplated.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of one example embodiment of a trackconnector 450 and track support 404. The track connector 450 and tracksupport 404 of this embodiment may be at least partially functionallysimilar to that of the track connectors 150, 250, 350 and track supports104, 204, 304 previously described above and shown in FIGS. 1-3C in mostrespects, wherein certain features will not be described in relation tothis embodiment wherein those components may function in the manner asdescribed above and are hereby incorporated into this alternativeembodiment described below. Like structures and/or components are givenlike reference numerals.

The track connector 450 of the present embodiment allows for movablycoupling the track assembly 440 to the frame 402. The track assembly 440is configured to be raised and/or lowered vertically with respect to theframe 402. In the present embodiment, the track connector 450 includes aflange 452 and an arm 456. The flange 452 is connected to the arm 456 bya pin joint. The flange 452 may be locked into position relative to thearm 456 with a flange lock 458 a, 458 b.

The track support 404 may be connected to the track connector 450 by thearm 456. The arm 456 may be connected to the track support 404 by a pinjoint. The arm 456 may be locked into position relative to the tracksupport 404 with a track support lock 405 a, 405 b.

As shown, the track assembly 440 is in a stowed configuration. In thestowed configuration, the arm 456 may be locked relative to the flange452 with the stowed flange lock 458 a and may be locked relative to thetrack support 404 with the stowed track support lock 405 a. As shown inphantom, the track assembly 440 is in an engaged configuration. In theengaged configuration, the arm 456 may be locked with the engaged flangelock 458 b and may be locked relative to the track support 404 with theengaged track support lock 405 b. The track connector 450 as shown inFIG. 4 may be raised and lowered by means of a forklift or other liftingdevice. In other embodiments, the arm 456 may be counterweighted orotherwise modified such that the track assembly 440 may be raised andlowered manually.

FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of another example embodiment of a trackconnector 450′ and track support 404′. The track connector 450′ andtrack support 404′ of this embodiment may be at least partiallyfunctionally similar to that of the track connectors 150, 250, 350, 450and track supports 104, 204, 304, 404 previously described above andshown in FIGS. 1-4 in most respects, wherein certain features will notbe described in relation to this embodiment wherein those components mayfunction in the manner as described above and are hereby incorporatedinto this alternative embodiment described below. Like structures and/orcomponents are given like reference numerals.

The track connector 450′ shown in FIG. 4A includes a pair of arms 456′that connect to the track support 404′ and to the flange 452′. The pairof arms 456′ may provide additional lateral support to the trackassembly 440′. The pair of arms 456 may connect to the frame 402′ viaframe connectors 424′ and via the flange 452′.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate front views of a further example embodiment of atrack connector 550 and track support 504. The track connector 550 andtrack support 504 of this embodiment may be at least partiallyfunctionally similar to that of the track connectors 150, 250, 350, 450,450′ and track supports 104, 204, 304, 404, 404′ previously describedabove and shown in FIGS. 1-4A in most respects, wherein certain featureswill not be described in relation to this embodiment wherein thosecomponents may function in the manner as described above and are herebyincorporated into this alternative embodiment described below. Likestructures and/or components are given like reference numerals.

The track connector 550 of the present embodiment also allows formovably coupling the track assembly 540 to the frame 502. The trackassembly 540 is configured to be raised and/or lowered vertically withrespect to the frame 502. In the present embodiment, the track connector550 includes a flange 552. The flange 552 is connected to the tracksupport 504 via an arm 556. The arm 556 in the present embodiment is ahydraulic arm and the track support 504 includes a hydraulic pump.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the track assembly 540 is in a stowedconfiguration. In the stowed configuration, the arm 556 may be at leastpartially stowed within the track support 504 (i.e. the hydraulic pump).As shown in FIG. 5B, the track assembly 540 is in an engagedconfiguration. In the engaged configuration, the arm 556 may be extendedsuch that the track assembly 540 engages the ground. The track connector550 as shown in FIGS. 5A-5B may be raised and lowered by means of thehydraulic pump. In other embodiments, other mechanisms for automaticallyraising and/or lowering of the track assembly 540 may be used.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of another example embodiment of mobileindustrial equipment 600. The mobile industrial equipment 600 of thisembodiment and its components (i.e. track connector 650 and tracksupport 604) may be at least partially functionally similar to that ofthe mobile industrial equipment 100 and/or track connectors 150, 250,350, 450, 450′, 550 and track supports 104, 204, 304, 404, 404′, 504previously described above and shown in FIGS. 1-5B in most respects,wherein certain features will not be described in relation to thisembodiment wherein those components may function in the manner asdescribed above and are hereby incorporated into this alternativeembodiment described below. Like structures and/or components are givenlike reference numerals.

The mobile industrial equipment 600 of FIG. 6 includes an industrialassembly 620. The industrial assembly 620 is a crushing assembly thatmay be used to crush rocks or other materials at a job site. Theindustrial assembly 620 includes a feeder 622, a crusher 624, and aconveyor 626. The feeder 622 is connected to the frame 602 and is usedto hold the material to be crushed and direct the material to thecrusher 624. The crusher 624 is connected to the frame 602. The conveyor626 is connected to the frame 602 and is located below the crusher 624such that the processed material falls to a crushing area of theconveyor 626. The conveyor 626 moves the processed material from thecrushing area to a material transporter or to a pile of the material.

When the conveyor 626 is connected to the frame 602, the truck connector603 may be blocked such that a semi-truck or other transport is unableto connect to the truck connector 603. In other embodiments, theconveyor 626 and/or another component of the industrial assembly 620 mayprevent the semi-truck or other transport from connecting to the truckconnector 603 without removing that component of the industrial assembly620 from the frame 602. In further embodiments, the component of theindustrial assembly 620 that is blocking the semi-truck or othertransport may be adjusted or modified such that the semi-truck or othertransport may connect to the truck connector 603. However, in mostembodiments, the blocking component of the industrial assembly 620 willneed to be removed.

However, because the mobile industrial equipment 600 includes a trackassembly 640, the mobile industrial equipment 600 may be moved about ajob site without removing any components of the industrial assembly 620.This will save time and money when moving the mobile industrialequipment 600 around a job site.

The industrial equipment 600 may include a plurality of stabilizers 606.The stabilizers may be located on the lateral periphery of theindustrial equipment 600. The industrial equipment may include at leastfour stabilizers 606 and is shown in FIG. 6 with six stabilizers 606.More and/or fewer stabilizers 606 may be used. In some embodiments, thestabilizers 606 may be hydraulically driven and may be selectivelydeployed (extended) and/or stowed (retracted) as needed. In someembodiments, the stabilizers 606 may be powered by the onboard powerplant 610. The stabilizers 606 may contact the ground at a stabilizerpoint of contact 609. As shown in FIG. 6 , the stabilizer point ofcontact 609 is lower [vertically further from the frame 602] than thetrack point of contact 607, which is lower [vertically further from theframe 602] than the wheel point of contact 605. This provides additionalsupport to the industrial equipment 600.

In other embodiments, the stabilizer point of contact 609 may be thesame as the track point of contact 607. Having the same point of contactmay allow both the track assembly 640 and at least one stabilizer 606contact the ground at the same time.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, the industrial assembly maybe operable regardless of the vertical relationship of its variouscomponents. For example, the industrial assembly 620 may be operablewhen the industrial equipment 600 is in a highway transportconfiguration (i.e. when the wheel assembly 630 is in contact with theground), in an on-site configuration (i.e. when the track assembly 640is in contact with the ground), in other configurations, or combinationsthereof.

Although the industrial equipment 600 is shown with the wheel assembly630 fixed to the frame 602 (via suspension connectors 632), in otherembodiments, the track assembly 640 could be mounted in a fixed positionrelative to the frame 602 and the wheel assembly 630 could be raised andlowered by, for example, hydraulic lift mechanisms relative to the frame602 and relative to the track assembly 640. In further embodiments, boththe track assembly 640 and the wheel assembly 630 could be raised and/orlowered.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment of a method 700 for usingmobile industrial equipment. Embodiments of the mobile industrialequipment 100, 200, 300, 400, 400′, 500, 600 described herein may beused in accordance with the method 700.

The method 700 includes an act of transporting mobile industrialequipment having wheels connected to a frame over the highway with atransport (act 702). In one example, the method may include transportinga mobile industrial machine having wheels permanently connected to themachine for the purposes of transporting, by semi-truck, for roadsand/or highway use. The wheels may be connected to the frame using solidaxles and/or may be driven. Conversely, in another embodiment, a trackassembly could be mounted in a fixed position relative to the frame andthe wheels could be raised and lowered by, for example, hydraulic liftmechanisms relative to the frame and relative to the track assembly. Thetransport may include a semi-truck or other transport. The transport maybe directly connected to the frame using, for example, a truck connectorsuch as a kingpin. In other embodiments, the mobile industrial equipmentmay be transported on a trailer bed that is connected to the transport.Although the embodiments described herein generally include a frame withwheels that are adapted to have a track assembly attached at a job site.Tracked vehicles may be adapted to include wheels and a truck connectorin order to be transported over the highway.

After the mobile industrial equipment is transported to a job site (act702), frame of the mobile industrial equipment is separated (act 704)from the transport. For example, the transport may be separated from theframe by disconnecting the truck connector (i.e. kingpin). In anotherexample, the mobile industrial equipment may be removed from a traileror other transport. Regardless, once the frame is separated from thetransport, the mobile industrial equipment is not directly connected tothe transport such that if the transport were, for example, to be drivenaway from the job site, the mobile industrial equipment would remain atthe job site.

After the mobile industrial equipment is separated from the transport,the mobile industrial equipment is moved (act 706) about the job siteusing a track assembly. In one example, an independent traveling tracksystem that uses electrical or hydraulic power may be installed on thejob site so that the mobile industrial machine can travel independentlywithout the use of highway tires. In another example, a removable trackframe (i.e. track assembly) may be installed so that the mobileindustrial machine can operate and travel on its own power for use atthe job site other than for the purpose of transporting the mobileindustrial machine on the highways and/or roads. For example, asdescribed above, the track assembly may engage the ground while thewheels do not touch the ground. In other embodiments, it may be possibleto have both the wheels and the track assembly touching the ground atthe same time.

For the purpose of highway travel, the track frame (i.e. track assembly)and/or electrical or hydraulic power may be removed and the mobileindustrial machine may be connected to a semi truck (via, for example, akinpin) such that the mobile industrial equipment may be transportedusing permanently mounted highway wheels or tires over the road and/orinterstate.

In some embodiments, where the track assembly is connected both on andoff the job site, the track assembly may be self-propelled and operatesvia a generator or other electrical or hydraulic source.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example embodiment of a method 800 for usingmobile industrial equipment. Embodiments of the mobile industrialequipment 100, 200, 300, 400, 400′, 500, 600 described herein may beused in accordance with the method 800. The method 800 of thisembodiment may be at least partially similar to that of the method 700previously described above and shown in FIG. 7 in most respects, whereincertain features will not be described in relation to this embodimentwherein those acts may be performed in the manner as described above andare hereby incorporated into this alternative embodiment describedbelow. Like structures and/or components are given like referencenumerals.

The method 800 includes an act of coupling a frame of mobile industrialequipment to a transport (act 801). The frame may be coupled eitherdirectly or indirectly. For example, as described above, the frame maybe directly coupled using, for example, a truck connector (e.g. kingpin)or may be indirectly coupled using a trailer (e.g. a low-boy).

The mobile industrial equipment has wheels connected to the frame and istransported over the highway with a transport (act 802). After themobile industrial equipment is transported to a job site (act 802),frame of the mobile industrial equipment is separated (act 804) from thetransport.

The mobile industrial equipment includes a power plant that may beinitiated (act 805). This may include starting a generator that isconnected to the frame and/or separate from the frame, connecting thepower plant to a commercial power source, or otherwise initiating poweron the mobile industrial equipment.

After the power plant of the mobile industrial equipment is initiated,the mobile industrial equipment is moved (act 806) about the job siteusing a track assembly. The track assembly may be powered by the powerplant. In the present embodiment, the tracks are powered by a powersource that is separate from the transporter used to transport themobile industrial equipment (act 802).

In the present embodiment, the mobile industrial equipment may be movedabout the job site by the track assembly only when an industrialassembly of the mobile industrial equipment is not being used. In otherembodiments, the industrial assembly may be in use while the mobileindustrial equipment is being moved by the track assembly. For example,it may be possible in the case of a crushing machine to both crush rockand move the crushing machine at the same time.

In some embodiments, the mobile industrial equipment needs to have atleast a portion of its industrial assembly connected to the frame. Oftenthis may occur after the mobile industrial equipment is transported tothe job site (act 802). For instance, with a crushing machine, theindustrial equipment may include a feeder, a crusher, a conveyor, othercomponents, or combinations thereof. In some circumstances, it may havebeen necessary to remove least some of these components to facilitatehighway transport, thereby requiring that such components may need to bereconnected to the frame at the job site. In these embodiments, themobile industrial equipment may be moved (act 806) without disassemblingand/or modifying any of the components of the industrial assembly. Inother embodiments, some or all of the components of the industrialassembly and/or the mobile industrial equipment may be disassembledand/or modified. For example, the mobile industrial equipment mayinclude stabilizers that may need to be adjusted before moving themobile industrial equipment.

The mobile industrial equipment, in some embodiments, may be moved fromone location at a job site to another location without being connectedto the transporter that was used to transport it to the job site. Forexample, in a trenching operation, the transporter may be decoupled fromthe mobile industrial equipment at a first location (i.e. the start ofthe trench) at a job site. The industrial assembly may be used at thefirst location. Then, the mobile industrial equipment may be moved usingthe self-propelled track assembly to a second location without beingcoupled to the transporter. The industrial assembly may be again used atthe second location (i.e. further down the trench). Then, the mobileindustrial equipment may be moved using the track assembly to a thirdlocation without being coupled to the transporter, and so on.

In further embodiments, after the industrial assembly is connected tothe frame and/or initiated, no components are disassembled and/ormodified using a separate powered piece of industrial equipment. Forexample, the stabilizers may be moved using the power plant on themobile industrial equipment. In another example, at least a portion ofthe conveyor may be adjustable using the power plant on the mobileindustrial equipment. However, in these embodiments no crane, forexample, is used to disassemble and/or modify any component of themobile industrial equipment.

This disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternativecomponents and/or acts, and specific examples thereof have been shown byway of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limitedto the particular devices or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the claims.

1.-20. (canceled)
 21. Mobile industrial equipment for coupling to atruck for on highway, comprising: transportation, comprising: a frameconfigured to connect to a truck with a truck connector; a wheelassembly movably connected to the frame on an opposite end of the framefrom the truck connector, the frame being rigid from the wheel assemblyto the truck connector, the wheel assembly including at least one pairof wheels, the wheel assembly configured to move the wheels between afirst position and a second position, wherein, in the first position,the wheels to do not contact a ground surface and are located a firstdistance from the frame, and wherein, in the second position, the wheelscontact the ground surface and are located a second distance from theframe, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and atrack assembly connected to the frame, wherein, when the wheels are inthe first position, the track assembly contacts the ground surface and,when the wheels are in the second position, the track assembly does notcontact the ground surface, the track assembly being positionedlongitudinally relative to a center of gravity of the frame to supportthe frame when the truck connector is not connected to the truck. 22.The mobile industrial equipment of claim 21, wherein the track assemblyis configured to move the frame while the truck connector isdisconnected from the truck.
 23. The mobile industrial equipment ofclaim 21, wherein the track assembly is positioned within a lateralperiphery of the frame.
 24. The mobile industrial equipment of claim 21,wherein the wheels are free wheels.
 25. The mobile industrial equipmentof claim 21, wherein the wheel assembly is capable of transporting themobile industrial equipment on a highway.
 26. The mobile industrialequipment of claim 25, wherein the wheels are highway legal and arecapable of transportation at speeds exceeding 45 mph.
 27. The mobileindustrial equipment of claim 21, further comprising a plurality ofstabilizers connected to the frame and configured to contact the groundsurface to at least partially support the frame.
 28. A method of usingmobile industrial equipment, the mobile industrial equipment including aframe, at least one pair of wheels connected to the frame, and a trackassembly connected to the frame, the method comprising: positioning thewheels vertically between a first wheel position and a second wheelposition with respect to the frame; positioning the frame verticallybetween a first frame position and a second frame position with respectto a ground surface, wherein positioning the frame verticallycorresponds to positioning the wheels vertically; supporting the frameat least partially with the track assembly; and moving the mobileindustrial equipment with the track assembly.
 29. The method of claim28, wherein moving the mobile industrial equipment further comprisesoperating the mobile industrial equipment while moving the mobileindustrial equipment with the track assembly.
 30. The method of claim28, wherein the mobile industrial equipment is industrial equipment usedin an industry selected from the group consisting of crushing, mining,screening, construction, demolition, recycling, environmental cleanup,forestry, and aggregate industries.
 31. The method of claim 28, furthercomprising: separating the frame from a truck; and extending a portionof the mobile industrial equipment beyond a truck connector of the framesuch that the frame cannot be connected to the truck.
 32. The method ofclaim 31, further comprising extending the portion of the mobileindustrial equipment without using a separate powered piece ofindustrial equipment.
 33. The method of claim 28, further comprisingtransporting the mobile industrial equipment over a highway with a truckand the at least one pair of wheels, the frame being connected to thetruck.
 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising, aftertransporting, separating the frame of the mobile industrial equipmentfrom the truck before moving the mobile industrial equipment with thetrack assembly.
 35. Mobile industrial equipment for coupling to a truckfor on highway transportation, comprising: a frame configured to connectto a truck with a truck connector; a wheel assembly connected to theframe, the wheel assembly including at least one pair of wheels; a trackassembly connected to the frame between the wheel assembly and the truckconnector; and an actuator assembly for actuating one or more of thewheel assembly or the track assembly between a travel configuration anda work configuration, wherein in the travel configuration the wheelscontact a ground surface such that the frame is supported by the wheelsand the truck connector, and wherein in the work configuration, thewheels and the track assembly contact the ground surface such that theframe is supported by the wheels and the track assembly.
 36. The mobileindustrial equipment of claim 35, wherein the track assembly isconfigured to move the frame while the truck connector is disconnectedfrom the truck.
 37. The mobile industrial equipment of claim 35, whereinthe track assembly includes a first track and a second track that areconfigured to be moved both independently and simultaneously.
 38. Themobile industrial equipment of claim 35, wherein the track assembly isdetachably connected to the frame.
 39. The mobile industrial equipmentof claim 35, further comprising a power plant, and wherein the powerplant is coupled to the track assembly to transmit power to the trackassembly for moving the mobile industrial equipment.
 40. The mobileindustrial equipment of claim 39, wherein the power plant is not coupledto the wheel assembly such that the at least one pair of wheels does notreceive power from the power plant.